Monday, April 2, 2018

Sara Sheridan

Sara Sheridan is an Edinburgh-based novelist who writes cosy crime noir mysteries set in 1950s Brighton and historical novels based on the real-life stories of late Georgian and early Victorian explorers.

Recently I asked the author about what she was reading. Sheridan's reply:

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower: loved this. It’s set in Georgian London (one of my favourite periods) and it’s full of lush period detail that really brings that world alive. And of course there are mermaids too, so that makes it even better!

Dark Star by Lorna Moon: This is from the early 20th century - Lorna Moon is an amazing writer - the modulation of her stories is breathtaking. She died young so this is her only novel and I loved it - the story of an illegitimate daughter who grows up and works her way to respectability only to be ruined by a love affair. It’s set in the Highlands of Scotland (where I have just finished setting the 8th Mirabelle Bevan mystery) and opens a window onto rural Scotland of the period - you can feel the villagers peering over your shoulder!Vittoria Cottage by DE Stevenson: DE is the second cousin of Robert Louis and her books were a smash in the 1950s. She sold around 7 million copies and is now almost completely forgotten. This is a post-war domestic family drama and it’s really engaging. I loved it! She’s a cracking writer.